“What? I’m curious.” She stopped behind Ava. Close enough that Ava could smell her perfume, something sweet and rotting underneath. “Humans are so fragile. So temporary. One wrong move and?—”
She snapped her fingers next to Ava’s ear.
Ava didn’t flinch.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Threatening?” Lilith laughed, low and musical. “That would be against company policy. But humans who get too close to our world do tend to have… accidents.”
“Enough.” Victor moved, putting himself between them. “Ms. Feng is under my protection.”
“Is she?” Lilith’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t see any mark. I don’t sense any claim. As far as demon law is concerned, she’s fair game.”
“Not anymore.”
Victor turned to Ava. The question in his eyes was clear.
She gave the smallest nod.
His hand cupped her face. His thumb traced her cheekbone, surprisingly gentle.
“My apologies for the timing,” he murmured, loud enough for Lilith to hear. “I’d planned something more private.”
Then he kissed her.
She expected cold. Calculated. A performance for an audience of one.
She didn’t expect fire.
His lips were warm. His hand tangled in her hair while the other found her waist, pulling her closer.
He deepened the kiss, and she gasped against his mouth.
That was all the invitation he needed.
The hand in her hair tightened, angling her head. She grabbed his shoulders for balance as the world tilted sideways. He tasted like coffee, dark and bitter.
Fake dating, she reminded herself.That’s what we agreed to.
So why did his hand on her waist feel so real?
When he broke away, her legs were unsteady. Victor’s eyes were darker than before, the gold flecks burning like distant stars. His thumb brushed her lower lip.
“Mine,” he said, still looking at her.
Warmth spread from where his lips had touched, down her neck, settling above her heart. She pressed her hand to the spot and felt raised skin through her blouse.
“Well.” Lilith’s voice could have frozen the Hudson. “Quite a performance.”
“Effective, I think.” Victor hadn’t looked away from Ava. “Ms. Feng and I have been discussing this all weekend. Haven’t we, darling?”
“Yes.” She surprised herself with how steady she sounded.
“How convenient.” Lilith moved toward the door, her heels striking the floor. “Do try not to break this one, Victor. Such a waste to lose another promising associate to unfortunate circumstances.”
The door slammed hard enough to rattle the windows.
Victor stepped back.
